When selecting materials for young children, avoid any small items that could pose a choking hazard. Preschoolers benefit from exploring a variety of materials and making discoveries. As children develop, they can classify by more than one characteristic, such as sorting the green square blocks. If preschoolers do not know the names of colors or shapes, it may be helpful to ask them to find something that is the same color or shape as a specific item. Children between the ages of 3 and 4 years old enjoy sorting and classifying objects usually by one characteristic (color, shape or size). Children naturally classify toys by type and sort crayons by color. ClassificationĬlassification is the skill of sorting or grouping items by similar characteristics, such as colors, shapes or sizes. In this fact sheet we focus on the math skills of classification, matching, seriation and patterning. Preschoolers can develop an understanding of numbers, spatial concepts (shapes, measurement) and the ability to sort, classify and solve problems.vi Early childhood teachers support children’s cognitive development by offering intentional opportunities for children to gain a variety of math skills.iii,v “His cars are small, and my trucks are large.”Īccording to the National Association for the Education of Young Children Position Statement on Early Childhood Mathematics,i “Mathematics helps children make sense of their world outside of school and help them construct a solid foundation for success in school.” Children have a natural and spontaneous interest in math as they wonder which items are bigger and sort different toys by type.ii Additionally, numeracy experiences provided by parents at home are predictive of children’s numeracy skills (ordering, classification) in kindergarten.iv During the preschool years, children recognize patterns, enjoy sorting objects and classify objects into groups. “These toys roll” (balls, trucks), and “these toys do not roll” (dolls, blocks). Even babies understand cause and effect, “If I shake this rattle, it makes noise.” Toddlers begin to classify toys. Reno | Pioneer Center Landscape (Downtown)Ĭhildren begin to develop emergent math skills at a very young age.Reno | Master Gardener Native Plants Garden (Southeast).Reno | Biggest Little Pollinator Garden (Campus).Logandale | Desert-Adapted/Native Plants Garden.
Las Vegas | Lifelong Learning Center (Paradise).